Toxic Chemical Found in Paracetamol That Killed Bangladeshi Kids

Bangladeshi authorities said Tuesday they had found traces of a toxic chemical in paracetamol syrup believed to have killed two dozen children in the past six weeks.

Health Minister A.F.M Ruhul Haq said investigators had found diethyl glycol in the locally produced syrup.

Toxic Chemical Found in Paracetamol That Killed Bangladeshi Kids

"We conducted two tests on the paracetamol syrup and each time we found diethyl glycol. It's a toxic chemical used in the textile and leather dyeing industries. It damages your kidneys if you consume it," the minister told AFP.

Haq said instead of mixing the paracetamol with propylene glycol, which is used as a solvent in paracetamol syrup, the drug maker added the toxic industrial chemical because it is ten times cheaper.

The 24 children who died were aged between one and five and came from the eastern district of Comilla, where authorities have closed the drug company that made the adulterated syrup.

Police are hunting the company's owners and pharmacists.

In 1992, 300 Bangladeshi children died when diethyl glycol was used in the same way.

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